Article ejection mechanism for vending machines



3,102,663 ARTICLE EJECTION MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1960 Sept. 3, 1963 H. J. ALBRIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet l Mm 5 J y fl p 3, 1963 H. J. ALBRIGHT 3,102,663

ARTICLE EJECTION MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1960.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I h n I K! r v BY 47 M% 1 1? 44 TTORNE q 3, 9 H. J. ALBRIGHT 3,102,663 I ARTICLE EJECTION MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,102,663 ARTICLE EJECTION MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Henry J. Albright, Aurora, 111., assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Apr. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 19,687 17 Claims. (Cl. 221-275) This invention relates to equipment for vending articles of merchandise and particularly to improved article ejection mechanism for use in a coin operated, manually actuatable machine adapted to receive a number of articles in stacked relationship and with one article being dispensed from the lower extremity of one of the stacks by a corresponding ejection mechanism upon insertion of one or more coins corresponding to a preselected valuation and after manual actuation of the machine.

Although many tpyes of machines have previously been provided for vending articles from any one of a number of stacks thereof, problems have been presented in providing a maximum number of articles within a vending cabinet of minimum size because of the amount of space required for the operating mechanism utilized to eject a single article from a particular stack in response to manual actuation of the vend mechanism. Cigarette vending machines are exemplary of one type of vending apparatus wherein the bulk of the packages is such as to require the cabinet to be substantially wider than the actual total transverse width of the stacks of cigarettes therein, in order that adequate space may be provided for the mechanism adapted to selectively eject individual packages from the lowermost extremity of respective stacks thereof.

Since it is desirable, in order to provide as many packages of cigarettes or similar articles in a minimum space in the machine, to have a plurality of stacks of cigarette packages arranged front-to-rear of the vending machine cabinet, provision must be made for a vend chute between the stacks of articles or adjacent each stack, and thus it is essential to maintain the actual article ejection mechanism for each of the article stacks, at a minimum effective width in order to lessen the overall transverse dimension of the cabinet.

It has heretofore been the practice to provide article pushing devices which are of a length substantially equal to the dimension of the article being dispensed in the direction of ejection thereof, in order to provide support for the article next above the lowermost article being ejected, and thus valuable space is utilized in the cabinet for the sole purpose of clearing the long pusher element forming a part of the ejection structure.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to solve the problems mentioned above by providing ejection mechanism for a vending machine having structure for receiving articles in stacked relationship, wherein the device for ejecting the lowermost article occupies a space less than the normal dimension of the article in the direction of ejection thereof, prior to shifting of the device in a direction to effect ejection of a respective lowermost article from the stack thereof.

Additional problems have arisen in machines of the character defined by virtue of the fact that a relatively large number of stacks of articles are provided within the machine cabinet in side-by-side as well as horizontal, spaced relationship, and it is necessary to effect ejection of only one article in response to manual actuation of a corresponding selector element. Early machines utilized a number of pull rods which required the customer to pull a handle element through a substantial distance and corresponding to a particular stack, in order to effect ejection of the lowermost article therefrom into a vend ice chute. In this type of machine captive lock mechanism precluded more than one pull rod from being actuated upon insertion of coins of predetermined denomination, but in order to simplify the operations necessary to effect vending and especially eliminate the manual effort required by the purchaser of an individual article, more recent vending machines of the type described, have em ployed a power actuated vend mechanism for operating the article ejection mechanism, with the power operated structure being actuated in response to insertion of coins of proper denomination in the machine in conjunction with pressing of a button corresponding to the articles contained in a selected stack.

Machines heretofore provided which eliminated thepull rod structure for effecting Vending of individual articles and utilizing power operated means for moving a selected article ejecting device, have suffered from the defects of being extremely expensive to construct, requiring frequent maintenance and being subject to breakdown during operation thereof, and in many instances jamming because of locking of parts Whether of a mechanical or electrical nature.

It is another very important object of the instant invention to provide novel article ejecting mechanism eliminating the major problems associated with vending machines wherein movement of the ejecting devices is effected by a power operated unit and in response to insertion of proper coins in conjunction with manual actuation of a selector button.

Machines of this type commonly utilize an elongated operator bar extending the full length of the cabinet and connected to electrical means for moving the operator bar below all of the stacks of articles each time coins of selected value are inserted in the machine and a selector button operated. It is an additional important object of the invention to provide an improved article ejecting device having novel structure thereon for coupling the ejector to the operating bar when the manually operated push button corresponding to the particular ejecting device is actuated.

It is a still further important object of the invention to provide article ejection mechanism of the character described wherein a pusher element is disposed adjacent the lowermost end of each of the stacks of articles and includes swingable connector means thereon for releasably joining a corresponding pusher member to the operating bar, with the manually actuatable selector button corresponding thereto, being operatively joined to mechanism for preventing the respective connector means from moving into a position to be engaged by the operator bar until after actuation of the corresponding selector button and thus precluding movement of all of the article ejecting devices except the one corresponding to the selector button which has been pushed by the customer.

In this connection, another important object of the invention is to provide cam actuated means on the ejection mechanism for cramming the connector means into disposition to be engaged by the operator bar upon movement of the means responsive to actuation of a particular selector button to thereby release the connector means and permit the same to swing under the action of the defined oam means. This construction provides efficient coupling of the ejection member to the operator bar with a minimum of parts, eliminating the necessity of employing electromechanical elements which are relatively expensive, and resulting in a mechanical unit having extended longevity without the necessity of frequent maintenance and repair.

An important object of the invention is to provide article ejection mechanism as referred to above wherein is included means for supporting the lowermost article of a particular stack during ejection thereof, until such lowermost article is completely removed from the stack 1n order to prevent tilting of the article and thereby resulting in tilting of the articles next above, and which would result. in jamming of the articles between the stack exit and the. ejector assembly.

With respect to the above mentioned problem of providing an ejection unit for vending machines receiv ng articles in stacked relationship, another important ObJiiC'E of the invention is to provide an ejecting device adapted to be disposed adjacent the normally lowermost article of each of the stacks and having a member movable along a. path of travel to engage and eject the lowermost articlefrom a selected stack, in conjunction with support means. disposed in telescoped relationship to the article ejection member when the latter is in the initial position thereof prior to movement of the same through the ejection cycle, with the support means cooperating with the member to support the article next above the lowermost article, until the latter has been ejected from the stack and the pusher member returned to the initial position thereof, by virtue of the fact that the pusher member initially moves a predetermined distance less than the normal dimension of the article in the direction of ejection thereof, before the support means begins movement in conjunction with the pusher member and under power furnished by the operator bar of the machine.

A further distinct object of the invention is to provide article ejection mechanism as set forth above wherein is included spring means urging the pusher member and the support means, in opposite directions and with the connector means for coupling the pusher to the operator bar being swingably mounted on the pusher member and swung from a position clearing the operator bar to a position to be engaged by the latter in response to relative shifting movement between the pusher member and the support means, whereby upon manual actuation of a particular selector button to efiect release of the corresponding connector means on the ejection device, the pusher member is initially shifted under the action of the spring means between the pusher member and the support means to effect a positive lockup of the connector means to the operator bar whereupon movement of the latter subsequently moves both the pusher member and the support means through the vend cycle, the mechanism thereby occupying a minimum space within the cabinet of the machine without sacrifice to operating efiiciency and through utilization of positively acting direct mechanism to accomplish the desired function.

Also an important aim of the invention is to provide article ejection mechanism of the type indicated which may be manufactured at a minimum cost by virtue of the fact that all of the components thereof may be produced by suitable stamping and forming apparatus and obviating machining and other expensive fabrication operations.

Other important objects and details and construction of the present article ejection mechanism will be described or become obvious as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view through a vending machine cabinet having the in stant article ejection mechanism therein, with the ejector device being illustrated in the initial position thereof prior to movement of the latter in a direction to eject the lowermost article from a stack thereof as shown;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view identical with FIG. 1 with the exception of the ejector device being illustrated intermediate the ends of the path of travel thereof and showing the way in which the same contacts the lowermost article of the stack and ejects the same therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of linkage .and gear means for reciprocating an operator bar as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, through a rectilinear path of travel to effect one vend cycle of the ejector device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows, with certain parts of the partition structure forming a part of the machine cabinet being broken away to reveal details of construction of the components thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 and lookoing downwardly in the direction of the arrows, certain parts of the ejector mechanisms being broken away to show the details of the same;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the present ejector device per se;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ejector device as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the ejector device;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the subject ejector device; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a modified mechanism for preventing swinging movement of connector means on the ejector device from moving into a position to be engaged by the operator bar during movement thereof.

Briefly explained, the present article ejection mechanism includes a telescoping package ejector assembly adapted to be positioned adjacent the lowermost article of a corresponding stack thereof and above an operator bar movable along a rectilinear path beneath the individual stacks of articles located in side-by-side relationship. The ejector assembly includes a tubular pusher member having a front face adapted to engage the lowermost article of a corresponding stack and movable along a horizontal partition fiorming the bottom of the article stacks. The ejector assembly is normally positioned in a space between a vertical wall spaced from the stacks of articles, and the proximal faces of the articles to be dispensed, with the base partition having slots therein extending in the direction of movement of respective ejector assemblies for clearing means connecting an elongated tongue to the pusher member and extending forwardly therefrom to support the lowermost article until the same has cleared the article therenext above during the vend cycle. A lever pivotally mounted on the pusher member carries a J-shaped element adapted to be swung into a position to be engaged by the operator bar of the machine, shiftable along a rectilinear path of travel beneath all of the stacks of articles, with a combination article support and cam unit being disposed in telescoped relationship to the pusher member to cooperate with the latter in supporting the article next above the lowermost article during vending of the latter, and to also swing the J-shaped element into a position positively locked with the operating bar upon movement of means normally preventing swinging movement of a cone sponding J-shaped element, to a position clearing the latter and in response to actuation of a selector button by a customer who has inserted proper coins into the machine. Spring means is provided between the com? bination support and cam means for biasing the latter and the pusher member in opposite directions so that when the operator bar is in the initial position thereof and engaging the lever carrying the J-shaped connector element, the cam and support means is telescoped in the pusher element to thereby conserve space occupied by the ejector assembly.

Upon manual actuation of one of the selector buttons, hook means is moved out of the way of the corresponding J-shaped connector element, the cam and support means is telescoped in the pusher element to thereby c011 serve space occupied by the ejector assembly.

Upon manual actuation of one of the selector buttons, hook means is moved out of the way of the corresponding J-shaped connector element whereby the spring means between the pusher member and the support and cam means biases the pusher member toward the ad'- jacent lowermost article of a respective stack, with the lever carried by the pusher member being cammed in a direction to swing the connector element into a position to be engaged by the operator bar, it being understood that movement of the pusher member is in conjunction with shifting of the operator bar since the latter normally engages the lever carrying the connector element. Coupling of the connector element to the operator bar causes the ejector assembly to be reciprocated through a complete vend cycle, thereby displacing a corresponding article from the bottom of the stack thereof and permitting the stack to move downwardly to a position resting on the base partition of the cabinet when the ejector assembly is returned to the initial position thereof.

The structure illustrated in the drawings is adapted to be mounted within the cabinet of a vending machine and although only one ejector assembly and its associated components are illustrated, it is to be recognized that a plurality of ejeotors are provided, one for each stack of articles in the cabinet. A horizontal primary or base partition positioned within the machine cabinet adjacent the lower part thereof, is supported along one longitudinal edge 12' thereof by a vertical wall section 14-, while the opposite, parallel, longitudinal edge 16 of partition ll is carried by a vertical wall segment 18 which may define a part of the discharge chute of the vending unit.

Base partition 10 is connected to the lower extremities of a pair of vertical, parallel, horizontally spaced walls 20 and 22 which are spaced apart a distance substan tially equal to the length of the articles 24 in the direction of ejection thereof, as shown in FlGS l and 2. Spaced, laterally extending ears 26 and integral with the lower margin of wall 20 are Welded to the upper face of partition ll), while at least a pair of outwardly projecting tabs 23 and preferably disposed at opposite ends of wall 22, also are located in abutting relationship to the upper face of partition 10 adjacent edge 16 to thereby firmly secure wall 22 in a fixed position.

Means for dividing the space between walls 20 and 22. into article receiving chambers includes a number of substantially Z-shaped partitions 66 having oppositely extending outer legs 36a and 30b as well as a central wall section 30c extending transversely of the distance be,- tween walls 20 and 22. Since the lower margin of Wall 22 has a notch 32 therein extending the full length of the article receiving columns and the lower edge 34 of wall 22 defining notch 32 is spaced from partition 10 a distance equal to the thickness of each article 24, it can be seen that section 300 of each of the partitions 30 extends downwardly into engagement with partition 10 but a corresponding, outwardly extending leg 30b terminates in substantial alignment with edge 3-4 of wall 22.

Base partition 14} is also provided with a series of transversely extending slots 36 therein, with one slot 36 being provided for each of the article receiving chambers defined by walls 2t) and 22 as well as adjacent partitions 36, and extending through such chambers in equidistant relationship from opposite partitions 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Each slot 36 terminates adjacent a transversely U-shaped wall member '38 located proximal to edge 12 of partition 10, while the opposite ends of slots 36 are open and in direct alignment with respective notches 40 formed in the upper margin of wall segment 18, it being pointed out that notches 40 are of greater width than slots 36 for reasons to be hereinafter made clear.

Wall member 38 has an upright wall section 42 as well as a pair of parallel, vertically spaced leg portions 44 and 46 with the latter being suitably secured to partition 10 adjacent edge 12 thereof.

An ejector assembly 43 is mounted on base partition 10 Within each of the slots 36 therein for movement along a reciprocable path of travel defined by a corresponding slot 36 and thereby through a respective chamber presented by walls 20' and 22 as well as opposed partitions 30. Wall 20 is provided with a series of notches 31 therein at the lower margin of the same for clearing corresponding article ejectors 43, with notches 31 normally being of less width than articles 24 and only sufiiciently large to clear the article ejectors during reciprocation thereof. An elongated, transversely U-shaped operator bar 50, shiftable along a path of travel beneath partition 10 and extending the full length of the article receiving chambers, is provided for selectively moving one of the ejector assemblies 48 to eifect ejection of the lowermost article 24:: from the stack thereof. Mechanism for shifting operator bar 50 includes a segmented gear 51 keyed to an elongated, horizontally disposed shaft 52 which is in turn coupled to suitable power operated means which is actuated in response to deposit of coins of suitable denomination in the coin handling equipment of the machine. Gear 51 is in complemental meshing relationship to a gear 53 mounted on vertical end wall 54 for rotation about pivot pin 56. An elongated extension 58 integral with gear 53 and lying in the plane thereof is pivotally joined to a longitudinally arcuate link 6t) by a pivot pin 62 extending through overlapping ends of extension 58 and link 60. The opposite extremity of link 66 is pivotally joined to an L-shaped member 64- by a pivot pin 66, with member 64 in turn being joined to a pair of shafts 68 which extend through an elongated horizontal slot 70 provided in end wall 54. Rollers 72 mounted on each of the shafts 68 and received within slot 70, limit movement of member 64 to a rectilinear, substantially horizontal path of travel. The end of operator bar 50 proximal to end wall 54 has an upstanding section 74 thereon which receives the inner ends of shafts 6% as best shown in FIG. 4. Structure (not shown) is provided at the opposite end of operator bar 50 for assuring movement of the latter along a path of travel with the longitudinal axis thereof in perpendicular relationship to the slots 36 during rotation of shaft 52 and thereby pivoting movement of main operating gear 51.

One of the ejector devices or assemblies 48 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 6 to 9 inclusive, with the principal components thereof being a tubular pusher member 76, support means in the nature of a transversely U- shaped, combination article support and cam element 78 disposed in telescoped relationship to member 76, connector or coupling means 80 mounted on a pair of ears 112 carried by member 76 serves to couple assembly 4-8 to operator bar 5! and elongated extension means in the form of a tongue 82 extending forwardly from member 76 to provide support for article 24a during ejection thereof, as will be explained hereinafter.

. Pusher member 76 has a generally rectangular bottom section 84 normally disposed in overlying relationship to partition 10, a pair of upright, horizontally spaced, parallel side sections 86, and inwardly projecting, opposed, top sections 38 integral with respective upper margins of side sections 86. A pair of front sections 9% integral with respective top sections 83, extend downward-1y into engagement with the upper surface of bottom section 34 to present a flat face to engage the proximal vertical surface of lowermost article 24a.

A relatively narrow block 92 is interposed between the lower surface of bottom section 84 and the upper face of tongue 82, with rivet means 94- being provided to secure tongue 82 to block 92 and the latter in turn to member 76. Block 92 is normally interposed in slot 36 with bottom section 84 of member 76 resting on the upper face of partition 10, while tongue 82 is disposed below partition 10, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. It should be 'pointed out that bothbottom section 84 of member 76 Element 78 has an upper rectangular top section 96- of slightly less transverse width than the distance between opposed surfaces of side Wall sections 86 and a pair of opposed, parallel, relatively narrow side portions 98 are integral with opposite margins of top section 96 and depend from the latter. I As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the transverse width of side portions 98 is less than the corresponding dimension of side sections 86 to permit element 7-8 to telescope freely into member 76.

Side sections 86 of member 76 have elongated, parallel, aligned slots 1100 therein of equal length and slidably receiving an elongated pin 1112 carried by the side portions 98 of element 78 and having head means 11% on the outer extremities thereof externally of corresponding side sections 86 to prevent movement of pin 162 relative to element 78. A pair of upstanding cars 1196 integral with the rear margin 108 of bottom section 84 and disposed on opposite sides of block 92, each receive corresponding ends of coil springs 110 which are hooked over pin 102 (see FIG. 9) adjacent respective side portions 98. Springs 110 bias element 78 toward a position completely telescoped in member 76 as shown in FIG. 1.

The ears 112 are integral with opposed longitudinal margins of tongue 82 adjacent the end thereof proximal to block 92, and depending from the major plane of tongue 82, mount a horizontally disposed pintle 114 which in turn serves as means for pivotally carrying connector means '80.

Although connector means 8 may take various forms, the preferred construction includes a substantially J- shaped element 116 provided with a flat .planar segment 118 integral with an upstanding'ear 120 along one margin thereof and an elongated, angularly disposed lever segment 122 joined to the opposite longitudinal margin thereof. As shown in FIG. 6, car I120 extends upwardly in overlapping relationship to the proximal rear 112 on tongue 82 with pintle 1'14 projecting through both of the ears 120 and 112. Pintle 114 also extends through lever segment 122 so that the latter may pivot about the axis of pintle 114. The outer, operator bar engaging portion of element .116 includes a relatively short L-shaped portion 124 having the short leg thereof integrally joined to the outer margin of segment 11 8, while an upright leg portion 126 is integral with the outer edge of portion 124. Leg portion 126 is of suflicient length that when segment 118 is swung to a location substantially parallel with tongue 82, the upper margin of leg portion 126- is in close proximity to the lower surface of tongue 82. It should also be pointed out that leg portion 126 is of a length at least equal to the vertical transverse dimension of operator bar 50. In order that operator bar 50 may bereceived Within J-shaped element 116, the distance between the inner face of leg portion 126 and the proximal edges of ears 112, should be somewhat greater than the transverse horizontal dimension of operator bar 51).

A hook-shaped member 128 is riveted to the underside of segment 118 and includes a depending leg portion 130 substantially directly below pintle 1 14 when connector means 80 is in the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 6.

The upper end 132 of lever segment 122 mounts a shaft unit 134- which in turn rotatably carries a roller 136 positioned within element 78 immediately below top section 86 thereof. Roller 136 is adapted to ride on the undersurface of a generally rectangular, centrally disposed, depressed area 138 for-med in top section 96 of element 78, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2; It is to be noted that the rear margin 108 of bottom section 84 has a notch 140 therein for clearing lever segment 122 during swinging movement of the latter in response to movement of roller 1% over the cam surface. presented by depressed area 138. The central rectangular sections 142 and 144 of top section 96 of member 7 8 and longitudinally aligned with depressed area 138 are pressed upwardly a distance equal to the thickness of top sections 158 so that the upper surfaces of the latter and those of sections 142 and 144 lie in substantially a common plane.

Means (for providing selective release of ejector assembly 48 may in one form of the invention, include an elongated rod 146 extending through aligned openings 1 47 and 149 therefor in leg portions 44 and 4 6 of wall member 38 as well as in partition 18, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. 'It is to be understood that one rod 146 and its associated mechanism is provided for each of the ejector assemblies 48 and that rods 146 are positioned in direct alignment with a corresponding member 128 mounted on connector means 811.

A J-shaped hook ids-is secured to the lower end of the rod 146, which normally terminates in proximity to element 116, with the outer extremity 156 of hook 148 being positioned to engage leg portion 131) of member 128 when rod 146 is at the upper end of its path of travel as illustrated in FIG. 1. ,Means for shifting rod 146 to release the associated ejector assembly 48 includes a manually operable push button (not shown) on the front of the vending machine cabinet and operably coupled to a rod 152 reciprocable in a bracket 154 carried by upper horizontal partition 156. Means for transferring horizontal movement of rod 1152 into vertical movement of.

rod 146 comprises a U-shaped lever 158 pivotally mounted on upstanding ears 161) through respective pivot pins 162. Lever 1 58, which may be u-shaped in transverse section, has laterally extending sections 164 and 165 against which I the corresponding ends of rods 152 and 1 56 abut.

A coil spring 168 disposed in surrounding relationship to rod 146 within member 38 engages the upper surface of leg portion 46 as well as an annular retainer 171} on rod 14-6 and received within a complemental, circum- -ferentially extending groove 171 formed in the outer surface of rod 146, Spring 168 is of suflicient length to bias rod 146 upwardly until retainer 178 engages the undersurfaee of leg portion 44, as shown in FIG. 1;

In order to prevent return movement of article 24a to a position beneath article 2411 therenext above, during the ejection cycle, a flexible member in the nature of a leaf spring 166 is mounted on the outer face of Wall 22 in direct alignment with a corresponding ejector assembly 48, it being noted that each of the springs 166 depends downwardly into the path of travel of the lowermost article 24a.

In operation, the customer inserts coins of a preselected total valuation in the coin mechanism of the machine whereby the totalizer thereof sets up the circuit for energizing the prime mover for rotating shaft 52 to thereby reciprocate operator bar 511'. However, actuation of the power operated means for rotating shaft 52 is prevented until the customer pushes a selection button operably coupled to one of the rods 152.

on section 164 of the corresponding lever 158, thereby causing the latter to be rotated about the axis of pivot pins 162. As section of lever 158 moves downwardly under theurging of rod 152, section 165 presses downwardly on rod 146 and shifts the latter against the action of coil spring 168 to a position where extremity 158 of hook 148clears leg portion 138' on the connector mechanism 811 of the associated ejector assembly 48.

The ejector assembly 4 8v corresponding to the rod 146 which has been shifted downwardly, does not move by virtue of the fact that operator bar 50 is in engagement with ears 112 on tongue 82, thereby forcing member 76 toward one end of its path of travel and into engagement with the outer surface of wall section 42 of member 38. As illustrated in FIG. 1, element 78 is completely telescoped within member 76 when the latter is in engagement with wall member 38, thereby causing springs 11% to be stretched and with pin 102 being located at the (far end of its path of travel adjacent front sections 90 of member 76.

Upon closing of the switch by movement of rod 152, thereby completing the circuit to the vend prime mover operably connected to shaft 52, the latteris rotated in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3 and effecting rotation of gear 51 in a clockwise direction. Gear 52, complementally intermeshed with gear 51, is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and causing extension 58 to pivot relative to link of and pull the latter toward gear 53. Member 64 shifts in the same direction as link 60 during movement thereof, with shifting of member 64 being restricted to a rectilinear path by rollers 72 positioned within slot 70. Operating bar 50 coupled to member 76, moves with the latter and in a direction to the rig t viewing FIGS. 1 and 2. As previously noted, means is provided at the end of bar 50 opposite to that shown in FIG. 4 to cause bar 5% to remain in perpendicular relationship to the longitudinal lengths of slots 36 throughout the reciprocable path of travel of operating bar 5i As soon as operating bar 50 shifts relative to wall member 33, all of the leg portions 130 of book members 128 engage extremities 150 of books 148 and further movement of such ejector assemblies 48 is precluded, notwithstanding the fact that operating bar 50 no longer engages ears 112 on the respective ejector assemblies 48. However, the hook 148 on the rod 146 which has been depressed, clears leg portion 136 of the corresponding ejector assembly 48 thereby permitting the latter to move relative to rod 146 and the hook 143 thereon. Since member "76 and element '78 are both in engagement with the outer surface of wall section 42 of member 38, springs 11 t} which are in a stretched condition, bias member 76 to the right as shown in FIG. 1, with pin 1&2 shifting in slots ltlti along a rectilinear path. As member 76 shifts relative to element 78, roller 136 on lever segment 122 rides on the lower cam surface of rectangular depression 138 as indicated in FIG. 2, thereby resulting in swinging movement of lever section 122 and the element 116 mounted thereon, in a counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 2 to thereby pivot element 116 into a position with segment 118 parallel with tongue 82 while leg portion 126 is disposed to be engaged by operator bar 56. In this respect, it is important to note that lever segment 122 and the element 116 thereon are shifted into a position whereby operator bar 50 engages leg portion 12s, prior to movement of operator bar 50 into a location where leg portion 126 would be disposed behind the forward downward-1y turned leg of bar 59.

After positive lockup of ejector assembly 48 to bar 58, continued movement of the latter to the right pulls ejector assembly 48 along with the same although element 78 is at the outer end of its path of travel with respect to member 76 by virtue of pin 102 engaging the inner edges of wall sections 86 defining the end of slot opposed to :front sections 99. Ejector assembly 48 follows a rectilinear path by virtue of block 22 sliding in slot 36 toward wall 22. Upon engagement of front sections 9t with the proximal face of lowermost article 24a, the latter is also shifted with ejector assembly 48 in a direction toward the discharge chute defined in part by vertical wall segment 18. Movement of article 24a beneath edge 34 results in bending of spring 166 up- Wardly as indicated in FIG. 2. As soon as the lowermost article 24a has been moved to a position where the article 24b therenext above may tilt slightly, the upper surfaces of sections 142 and 144 of element 78 as well as the upper faces of top sections 83 of member 76 cooperate to support article 24]) until article ejector 48 has been returned to the initial position thereof.

During movement of article ejector 48 to the right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, tongue $2 supports article 24a until shaft 52 is rotated in a direction opposite to its initial movement to cause ejector assembly 48 to be returned to the original position thereof. Spring 166 which has shifted downwardly after ejection of such article from the stack thereof, engages article 24a at the surface thereof initially contacted by front sections to thereby cause lowermost article 24a to be displaced from tongue 32 into the discharge chute as tongue 82 returns below main partition 10 and through the respective notch 40 in vertical wall segment 18.

Return movement of operator bar Ell eventually causes the element '78 to again be telescoped into member 76, as shown in FIG. 1.

It can now be recognized that ejector assembly 48 is constructed to effect ejection of the lower-most article 24a from a stack and providing means for supporting the article 245 therenext above throughout the ejection cycle, and yet not requiring that the pusher and support member be of a length equal to the dimension of the article in the direction of ejection thereof, by virtue of the provision of telescoping members of the type illustrated and described.

Furthermore, the telescoping unit provides: means for positively locking connector means fitl to the operator bar 54} by utilization of completely mechanical elements which are substantially troublefree and requiring little if any maintenance.

Another feature of the present construction is the manner in which operator bar 5b moves into engagement with ears 112 to force connector means 80 to a disposition where leg portions of members 128 are out of engagement with extremity of each of the books 148 carried by rods 146. In this manner, it is impossible for hooks 1-48 to hang up on members 128 and which could result in the customer losing his money without obtaining an article 24. Additionally, swinging movement of connector means Stl into a position to be engaged by operator bar St) is assured since all of the ejector assemblies 48 move a slight distance in response to reciprocation of operator bar 59 and until members 122 engage corresponding hooks 148, but the one hook 148 connected to the rod 146 which has been actuated, is moved to a position clearing the connector means 80 associated therewith, and resulting in completely uninhibited swinging movement of element .116 to the disposition thereof illustrated in FIG. 2.

The provision of tongue 82 is important because the latter supports article 24a until the same has been cornpletely removed from beneath the stack and thus precluding jamming between the column exit 34 and the ejector 48 which might occur by virtue of tilting of articles in a nearly exhausted stack thereof.

A slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10, with all of the components being identical with the exception of electromagnetically operated hook means broadly designated 272 which replaces the manually actuated rod 146 and the hook 143 thereon. In the construction shown in FIG. 10', an electromagnet 274 is mounted on an angularly disposed bracket 276 in a position causing the armature 278 to be disposed in relatively close facing relationship to segment 118 of J-shaped element 116. A latch member 280 is pivotally mounted on the housing of electromagnetc 274 in :a position to be attracted toward armature 278 upon energization of the coil of electromagnet 274. Spring means 282 interposed between the housing of electromagnet 274 and latch member 280 biases the latter in a direction to 11 engage leg portion 130 of member 128 on element 116, until the coil of electromagnet 274 is energized to pull latch member 280 downwardly into engagement with armature 278 and thereby clearing leg portion .130.

It can be understood that in the construction illustrated in FIG. 10, depression of a selector button by the customer not only completes the circuit to the vend prime mover which operates bar but also results in energization of the electromagnet 274 corresponding to the button depressed. Ejection of an article from one of the stacks thereof is effected in exactly the same manner as described above with respect to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9 inclusive.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

:1. In an article ejection mechanism for a vending machine having structure for receiving articles in stacked relationship an ejecting device adapted to be disposed adjacent the normally lowermost article of said stack in an area of less width than the normal dimension of each article in the direction of ejection thereof, said device including a member initially positioned in said area and movable along a generally horizontal path of travel to engage and eject said lowermost article from said stack; initially stationary support means located in said area in substantially horizontal alignment with the memher and movable along said horizontal path after said member has moved a predetermined distance less than said dimension of the articles, said member and the support means having generally coplanar, cooperab-le, upwardly facing surfaces thereon for supporting the next to lowermost article during ejection of said lowermost article by the member, the effective lengths of said member and the support means and thereby the article support surfaces there of being less than said dimension of the articles to permit positioning of the device in said area; and

means interconnecting the member and the support means for effecting shifting of the support means with the member after said member has. moved a distance relative to the support means to cause said surfaces thereof to present a combined support for the next to lowermost article during ejection of the lowermost article, of sufficient length to prevent substantial tipping of said next to lowermost article throughout the article ejection and return movement cycle of said member.

2. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member and the support means are in relative telescoped relationship when the same are located in said area and the upwardly facing surfaces thereof are of approximately equal length.

3. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided means engaging the member and the support means for shifting the member relative to the support means, and means engageable with said support means for maintaining the latter in a substantially stationary position during initial movement of the member along said path thereof. 7 4, In anarticle ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein is provided connector means for coupling the support means to said member after the latter has moved a selected distance to shift the support means in response to movement of the member.

5. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided tongue means on said member and extending outwardly therefrom in the direction of ejection of articles, said tongue being of sufficient length to support said lowermost article thereon after ejection of the same from the stack, and means for displacing the lowermost article from said tongue during return movement of the member to the initial position thereof.

6. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member has a pair of opposed side walls provided with elongated, opposed, aligned slots therein of equal length and extending in the direction of movement of the member, and said means interconnecting the member and the support means includes pin means secured to said support means, extending through the said slots in the member and slidable therein whereby when the pin means reach the ends of the slots remote from said lowermost article, the support means is shifted with and in response to movement of the member.

7. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein is provided resilient means interconnecting said pin means and the margin of the member remote from said lowermost article for biasing said pin means toward said ends of the slots in said member and thereby the member away from said support means.

8. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member is of generally tubular configuration and telescopically receives said support means, the upper portion of the member being provided with a slot thereon for clearing said surface of the support means during movement of the member relative to the support means.

9. In an article ejection mechanism for a vending machine having structure for receiving articles in stacked relationship:

an operator bar positioned to move along a path of travel below the lowermost article in said stack thereof;

an ejecting device disposed above the operator bar and located in an area adjacent the lowermost article of less width than the normal dimension of each article in the direction of ejection thereof, said device including a movable member located to engage said lowermost article; and

coupling means on said member for selectively coupling the member to said bar to shift the member in a direction to engage and eject said lowermost article from the stack in response to movement of the bar beneath said stack, said device further including initially stationary support means located in said area in alignment with the member and movable along said path therewith, after said member has moved a predetermined distance less than said dimension of the articles, said member and the support means having generally coplanar, cooperable, upwardly facing surfaces thereon for supporting the next to lowermost article during ejection of said lowermost article by the member, the effective lengths of said member and the support means and thereby the article support surfaces thereof being less than said dimension of the articles to permit positioning of the device in said area, and means interconnecting the member and the support means for eifecting shifting of the support means with the member after said member has moved a distance relative to the support means to cause said surfaces thereof to present a combined support for the next to lowermost article during ejection of the lowermost article, of suflicient length to prevent substantial tipping of said next to lowermost article throughout the article ejection and return movement of said member.

10. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein is provided means for disengaging the coupling means-from said bar after the member has been returned to said initial position thereof.

'11. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein is provided manually operable means engageable with said coupling means for preventing the latter from coupling the member to said bar until after said manually operable means has been actuated.

12. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said support means and the member are disposed in relative, generally telescoped relationship when said member is in said initial position thereof, there being means engaging the member and said support means for maintaining the support means stationary during initial movement of the member along said path of travel thereof, said coupling means comprising cam means on said support means, and lever means on the member engageable with said cam means for shifting the latter to a position adapted to engage said bar, in response to relative movement between the member and said support means and as the lever means rides on said cam means.

1 3. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 12 wherein said lever means includes a lever segment pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof on said member, said coupling means including a sub stantially J-shaped element having a first leg secured to the lowermost end of the lever segment and an outer, generally upstanding second leg integral with said first leg and movable into a position to be engaged by said operating bar as the lever segment is swung by said cam means during relative movement between'the member and said support means.

144. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 13 wherein is provided a second leg secured to the underside of said first leg of the element, and manually operable means engageable with said second leg for 'preventing the element from swinging to a position adapted to engage the bar and thereby precluding relative movement between the member and said support means.

15. In a vending machine:

a horizontal base having an elongated slot therein;

structure on said base for receiving articles in stacked relationship;

an upright wall horizontally spaced from the lowermost extremity of said structure a distance less than the normal dimension of an article in the direction of ejection thereof;

an operator bar movable along a path of travel immediately below said base and thereby said extremity of the structure;

an ejection member movably carried by the base in a position to engage the lowermost article of said stack thereof;

connector means on said member and extending through said slot for selectively coupling the latter to said bar for shifting the member along said base in a direction to engage and eject the lowermost article from said stack in response to movement of the bar beneath said stack;

tubular support means engaging said wall and disposed in telescoped relationship to said member when the latter is in the initial position thereof prior to ejection of said lowermost article, said support means and the member having generally coplanar, upwardly facing surfaces thereon cooperable in supporting the article next above said lowermost article during ejection of the lowermost article, the effective lengths of said member and the supporting means and thereby the article supporting surfaces thereof being less than said dimension of the articles to permit positioning of the member and said supporting means between said structure and said wall;

means biasing the member in a direction away from said support means; and

coupling means for interconnecting the member and said support means after said member has moved along said path of ejection thereof a distance less than said dimension of the article whereby the support means is moved in response to movement of the member by said bar and said upwardly facing surfaces of the support means and the member cooperate to support said article next above said lowermost article.

16. In an article ejection mechanism for a vending machine having structure for receiving articles in stacked relationship an operator bar positioned to move along a path of travel immediately below the lowermost article in said stack thereof;

an article ejecting device disposed above the operator bar and including a movable member positioned to engage said lowermost article;

first means engaging the member for biasing the latter in a direction away from the initial position toward said lowermost article;

coupling means including a hook-shaped member pivotally mounted on said member, movable therewith, and swingable from a position clearing said operator bar during-movement thereof, to a location engaging and thereby connecting the bar to said member; second means on the member and connected to said coupling means for shifting the latter toward said location thereof in response to movement of said member, said operator bar engaging said member and retaining the latter in said initial position thereof against the action of said first means when the bar is at one end of its path of travel; and

manually operable means engageable with said coupling means for preventing the latter from moving to said location of the same upon movement of the bar toward the opposite end of its path of travel, until after actuation of said manually operable means.

17. In an article ejection mechanism as set forth in claim 16 wherein said coupling means includes a lever pivotally mounted on said member and depending therefrom, said hook-shaped member comprising a J-shaped element having a [first leg secured to the lowermost end of the lever and an outer, generally upstanding second leg integral with said first leg and movable into a position to be engaged by said operating bar when the hookshaped member is in said location thereof, and wherein is included cam means on said member engageable with the upper end of said lever for swinging the latter in a direction to move said second leg into said posit-ion thereof, and means on the member for shifting said cam means relative to said member upon actuation of said manually operable means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

9. IN AN ARTICLE EJECTION MECHANISM FOR A VENDING MACHINE HAVING STRUCTURE FOR RECEIVING ARTICLES IN STACKED RELATIONSHIP: AN OPERATOR BAR POSITIONED TO MOVE ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL BELOW THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE IN SAID STACK THEREOF; AN EJECTING DEVICE DISPOSED ABOVE THE OPERATOR BAR AND LOCATED IN AN AREA ADJACENT THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE OF LESS WIDTH THAN THE NORMAL DIMENSION OF EACH ARTICLE IN THE DIRECTION OF EJECTION THEREOF, SAID DEVICE INCLUDING A MOVABLE MEMBER LOCATED TO ENGAGE SAID LOWERMOST ARTICLE; AND COUPLING MEANS ON SAID MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING THE MEMBER TO SAID BAR TO SHIFT THE MEMBER IN A DIRECTION TO ENGAGE AND EJECT SAID LOWERMOST ARTICLE FROM THE STACK IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF THE BAR BENEATH SAID STACK, SAID DEVICE FURTHER INCLUDING INITIALLY STATIONARY SUPPORT MEANS LOCATED IN SAID AREA IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MEMBER AND MOVABLE ALONG SAID PATH THEREWITH, AFTER SAID MEMBER HAS MOVED A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE LESS THAN SAID DIMENSION OF THE ARTICLES, SAID MEMBER AND THE SUPPORT MEANS HAVING GENERALLY COPLANAR, COOPERABLE, UPWARDLY FACING SURFACES THEREON FOR SUPPORTING THE NEXT TO LOWERMOST ARTICLE DURING EJECTION OF SAID LOWERMOST ARTICLE BY THE MEMBER, THE EFFECTIVE LENGTHS OF SAID MEMBER AND THE SUPPORT MEANS AND THEREBY THE ARTICLE SUPPORT SURFACES THEREOF BEING LESS THAN SAID DIMENSION OF THE ARTICLES TO PERMIT POSITIONING OF THE DEVICE IN SAID AREA, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE MEMBER AND THE SUPPORT MEANS FOR EFFECTING SHIFTING OF THE SUPPORT MEANS WITH THE MEMBER AFTER SAID MEMBER HAS MOVED A DISTANCE RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT MEANS TO CAUSE SAID SURFACES THEREOF TO PRESENT A COMBINED SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT TO LOWERMOST ARTICLE DURING EJECTION OF THE LOWERMOST ARTICLE, OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL TIPPING OF SAID NEXT TO LOWERMOST ARTICLE THROUGHOUT THE ARTICLE EJECTION AND RETURN MOVEMENT OF SAID MEMBER. 